Harvard University vs University of Minnesota

This page compares Harvard University and University of Minnesota across admissions data, cost of attendance, and employment outcomes — plus cross-admit decision data from 20 applicants admitted to both.

Based on 20 applicants admitted to both schools, 100% chose to attend Harvard University. This cross-admit data reflects real enrollment decisions from verified law school applicants on LSD.Law.

In the U.S. News rankings, Harvard University is ranked #6 compared to #22 — a gap of 16 positions that often correlates with differences in employment outcomes and peer assessment scores.

Harvard University is significantly more selective, with an acceptance rate of 9.2% compared to University of Minnesota's 26.7%.

Harvard University is located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, while University of Minnesota is in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Regional placement matters: graduates tend to find employment near their law school, so location should factor into your decision alongside rankings and cost.

Employment outcomes differ substantially: Harvard University places 51.4% of graduates into large law firm positions, compared to 16.1% for the other school. This 35 percentage point gap is significant for applicants targeting BigLaw careers.

On cost, University of Minnesota has lower tuition at $51,440 per year compared to $77,100. Combined with employment rates of 90.7% (HLS) and 95.2% (UMN), prospective students should weigh the cost-to-outcome ratio carefully.

Among cross-admitted applicants, University of Minnesota offered a median scholarship of $167,778 compared to $154,500, a difference of $13,278 that may factor into enrollment decisions.